Metallic building unit



Oct. 31, 1939. F. HOESS METALLIC BUILDING UNIT Filed Sept. 1 19:58

INV NTOR.

BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,178,357 ME'rALLro nmnmc UNIT Frank L. Hoess, Hammond, Ind.

Application September 1, 1938, Serial No. 221,934 '1 Claims. (01. 189-86) This invention relates to an improved building unit which is especially adaptable for use in covering-certain types of buildings.

It is understood that-tarious kinds of sheet metal-roofing and siding have been employed in the past. However, use of the sheet metal units of the type here shown have for the most part been unsuccessful. The principal objection to this type of building unit has been that the joints could not be maintained weather proof. The edges of the material would buckle or warp leaving a large crack or opening. Consequently water would be driven through the opening to the back side of the member where it would quickly rust thematerial.

Water likewise would run along the horizontal portion of the assembled units and creep upwardly into the horizontal joints. In as much as these parts could not be covered by a water proofing such as paint or the like, they quickly rusted away.

The present inventionovercomes the'dliflculties encountered in the previous structures and at the same time provides an economical and sturdy unit.

One of the principal objects of advantage and importance resides in the provision of means for locking one section of the material to another.

Another and further important object of advantage is the provision of means for preventing separating or warping of the material at the overlapping end joints.

Another and still further important object of advantage resides in the provision of means for maintaining an adhesive or water proofing material between the portions forming an overlapping joint.

Still another object of advantage resides in the provision of means for preventing water from entering the longitudinal joints of the associated members.

Additional objects of advantage and importance will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Flg, 1 is a'front elevational view of a building unit, parts thereof being broken away, which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of two of the units joined together.

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig, 4 is a front elevational view of an end joint, portions of the units being broken away.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral It indicates generally a sheet metal strip which maybe of any desired gauge or dimensions.

Formed of the upper edge of :the strip II is a downwardly projecting flange it. The inner surface of the flange I2 is in spaced apart relation with the outer or weather surfacepi the body of the sheet metal strip l0.

The lower portion of the sheet metal strip I0 is turned at an angle to the body of the strip and extends inwardly and slightly upwardly as indicated bythe reference numeral I4, and as best shown 'in Figs. 2 and3. 15

Formed of the lower edge of the strip I0 is a vertical flange Hi. The vertical flange l6 when positioned in the rear of the downwardly'prdjecting flange l2 cooperates to maintain the members in assembled relation, as is best shown 20 in Fig. 2.

Formed in the body of the sheet metal strip H) are a plurality of outwardly projecting ribs l8. The ribs I8 in addition to enhancing and reinforcing the strip also provide a locking means :5 for maintaining the units in'assembly. It is to be noted that when the units are assembled the upper ends of the ribs l8 are in engagement with the lower surface of the inwardly turned portion [4. This engagement isa positive bar 80 to the downward movement of the portion 14 or the flange I6.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a portion of each flange l2 and I6. at one end of the strip I0, is cut away, as is best shown in Fig. 1. The cut away portion of the flanges l2 and I6 allow the units to be lap-joined as is best shown in Fig. 4.

Formed in the sheet metal strip l0 closely adjacent the end and intermediate the cut away portions of the flanges I2 and I6 is a groove 20.

The groove 20 in addition to reinforcing and stiffening the end and consequently the end joint also provides a suitable trough in which a sealing or water proofing element may be maintained 4; in the joint.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a sturdy. eflicient and extremely long-lived building unit which may be used on various types of buildings.

Moreover, it will be apparent that water will run to the outer and lowermost point of the strip III and not into the longitudinal joints formed by the association of the flanges l2 and I8.

Itwillalsobeapparenttothoseskilledinthe I8 art to which the device appertains that numerous changes and alterationsin construction and design may be made all without departing irom the spirit or scopeof this invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the patent granted hereon is not to be limited to the preferred embodiment here disclosed nor in any other manner except as necessitated by the terminology of the appended claims when given the range of equivalents to which they may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

1. A building unit comprising a strip 01' metal, the upper longitudinal edge being turned downwardly inform a flange, a. portion adjacent the lower edge of said strip being turned to the rear and inclining upwardly, a vertical flange pro- 'jecting upwardly from said inclined member, and a verticle rib formed on the face 01' said metal strip,theupper endoisaidribterminatinga short distance below the downwardly turned upper edge of said strip.

2. A building unit comprising a strip of metal, the upper longitudinal edge being turned downwardly to form a flange, a portion adjacent the lower edge of said strip being turned to the rear and inclining upwardly. a plurality oi ribs formed in said strip intermediate the upper and lower edge, said ribs providing means for preventing the separation of strips joined one to the other and a vertical flange projecting upwardly from said inclined member.

3. A building unit comprising a strip voi metal, the upper longitudinal edge being turned downwardly to iorm a flange, a portion adjacent the lower edge of said strip being turned to the rear and inclining upwardly, a plurality of ribs formed in said strip intermediate the upper and lower edge. the upper-end of said ribs providing a step for the next above associated strip, and a vertical flange projecting upwardly from said inclined member.

4. A building unit comprising a strip 01' metal, the upper longitudinal edge being turned downceiving groove adjacentoneendoisaidstrip, and a vertical flange projecting upwardly from said inclined member.

aabuildinsuniteomprisingastripoimetai adapted to be amociated with like strips. the

elined member.

6. Abuildingunit comprisingastripoimetal adapted to be associated with like stripa the upper longitudinal edge being turned downwardly to form a flange, a portion adjacent the lower edgeoisaidstripbeingturnedwthe rearand inclining upwardly. locking means formed of portionsofsaidassociated MNJaidlocking-means including an outwardly bulged portion of said stripadaptedtoengageaportionoi'thenext above associated strip, a groove closely adjacent one end of said strip, and a vertical flan e projecting upwardly from said inclined member.

7. A sheet metal building unit having one of its longitudinal edges bent inwardly and upwardly, said inwardly turned portion being inclined upwardly, the other longitudinal edge being bent outwardly and downwardly, deformed portions 0! said unit woviding locking means preventing disengagement when operably joined to a like unit and means at one end of said unit to iacilitate making a weather-tight joint with alike member.

FRANKL. HOE-B8. 

